Albert (Bud) Nelson

4/21/1933 — 3/30/2014

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Albert Christian (Bud) Nelson Jr. was born April 21, 1933, in Lewiston, to parents Albert and Florence Nelson. His childhood playground was the Bollinger Hotel in downtown Lewiston. Bud's father, Albert Nelson, and uncle, George Nelson, bought the Bollinger and Lewis-Clark hotels around 1937. Employees were difficult to find during World War II, so Bud's parents worked long hours, often taking their children with them. They climbed fire escapes, roller skated in the lobby and visited with the vendors who stayed at the hotel. A hole in the hotel wall even provided secret access to the old Lewiston Morning Tribune press room. "Buddy" was a frequent visitor to the police and fire stations located across the street. As he grew older, he was introduced to the hotel business, where he worked behind the front desk.

Bud was a natural athlete, playing both baseball and basketball for the Bengals. He also played third base and shortstop for the Lewiston Twins. His team won three consecutive AA Idaho State championships from 1948-1950. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1951 and attended the University of Idaho on an athletic scholarship to play basketball, where he joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. After graduation he married Betty Jo Roberts and they spent their first year together in San Diego, Calif., where Bud was drafted into the U.S. Navy. The couple moved back to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley upon completion of his service duties to start a family and a career.

He passed the certified public accountant exam with no formal training and worked under the tutelage of William Fitzgerald, eventually becoming a partner in the accounting firm of Fitzgerald and Nelson. A lifelong interest in the stock market led him to Foster and Marshall, which later became Shearson American Express. When Shearson moved to Spokane, he enticed the firm of D.A. Davidson of Montana to start a branch in Lewiston so he wouldn't have to relocate.

In 1979, he married Beverly Sofie, whom he had known from her secretarial days at the Weisgerber Building. They shared a love of the valley and family, and recently celebrated 35 years together, both retiring in 2005. Although he enjoyed being a broker, he mostly loved the camaraderie at the office, the morning quarter tosses, working the Daily Jumble, and doing the crossword puzzle ... in ink!

In recent years, he enjoyed his coffee group, his grandchildren and several lifelong friends. He had a fantastic sense of humor and loved spirited conversation. The valley was his home and he didn't like to venture too far away. This was an especially favorite time of year when the hills he loved were covered in "velvet."

Bud is survived by his wife, Beverly; mother-in-law Iola Hansen; and granddaughter Danielle Olson - three lovely ladies who have been a constant joy and delight in his life; his sister, Shirley Christensen of Blackfoot; son Mark (April) of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter Julie Natale of Seattle; grandson Christian Nelson (born on papa's birthday); youngest granddaughter Audrey Nelson; and grandsons Nick and Joey Natale.

The family suggests donations be made to the Nez Perce County Historical Society.

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